TTMA school volunteering

[librarychica]

It’s reasonable to ask for a 5-7 day turnaround time for school at-home volunteering right? Like to prep stuff at home?

I want to volunteer for DD’s first grade class but I don’t want to overpromise.

Anyone want to chat about school involvement? We are new to public school.

[waverly]

The teachers prepped all my volunteer work. I guess I would ask them. I would need at least a weekend for prep.

Other than that I mostly volunteered at events such as field day that was prepped by the PTO. I was just a body.

Or I volunteered at room parties that were prepped via text or email among a group and headed up by room mom. Which I am not room mom by design.

Or I read to students in the classroom which was a few days of prep of just to decide and get from the library what I would read. DS's teacher said she welcomes volunteers, but I have not reached out to her yet. I have not heard anything from DD's teacher.

I have a 3 year background check, so I can work one on one with students without a teacher there. Otherwise with the smaller background check I would always have to be in the teacher's presence.

I am not able to commit to a weekly lesson plan and design the plan myself.  My mom did that, but she was a SAHM.  

[librarychica]

waverly, the need is to prep homework at home. That’s what I meant by prep. I’m assuming it is pretty basic. I need to get on the stick with the background check.

I have no education training. I wouldn’t even know where to start with a lesson plan! Also I don’t actually like working with kids. I’m a terrible volunteer. 😉

[waverly]

Maybe it’s craft prepping like cutting... otherwise homework is worksheets typically copied from a workbook so I dont know what you might need to do on that. Cutting etc I wouldn’t imagine it being more that 30 minutes a week but I might still want the weekend.

[186momx]

I haven't done the bring stuff home because the teachers always want you to pick it up during school and I'm not free to do that. The stuff DD's teachers have sent home with parents before are sheets of words that need to be cut out and then assembled on a binder clip for flash cards.

I know for DD's 1st grade class the teacher had family readers so people would come in and the kids got to read 1 on 1 with an adult. DD said most of them were older people. I'm thinking a group of seniors who just need to get out and do stuff or retired teachers/staff.

Most of the time I volunteer at events... bingo, field day, carnival, popcorn day, field trips. I actually go to the PTO meetings just so I know when this stuff is going to happen in advance as the school loves to give the info out on Tuesday and the event is Thursday and they ask for volunteers the day before.

[sdlaura]

I'm terrible in terms of volunteering. I can't commit to a regular thing with my travel schedule, and they always seem to have class parties and events on days that I have out of town meetings. I do always sign up to buy/bring a ton of stuff whenever it's needed.

[twinmomma]

librarychica, Prep work for teachers like helping cut stuff out ahead of time flows through the room parent at our school, not necessarily the teacher or PTA. Does your school have room parents? They'd probably be able to help you figure out the timing and expectations.

Also, as the PTA person now in charge of volunteers, reach out! They probably have stuff like set up ahead of time or help take down, or things that are less kid-involved, for each of the school events.

[2chatter]

So, last year I found the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions.

DD picked up and worked a lot of projects and while some were “in the next week or so” many were “oh, sorry, she wants that tomorrow or at the latest the next day” and that wasn’t always communicated when she picked it up. I had the same experience 5 years ago so I stopped doing it, and thought maybe it was better. Nope.

[waverly]

2chatter , I agree that prepping wouldn't be my favorite task. Not trying to be nit picky, but it is called volunteering for a reason. I much prefer to be in the classroom so I can show support and show up for my kids. They love to see me in the classroom. And so I can see how the classroom is run. I am sure it is run well, that is not an issue generally speaking. It is just always nice to watch that teacher/ classroom/ child/ friends interaction to get a better pulse on everything overall.  

[sandandsea]

I signed up to be a room parent so my job is to plan and attend 4 parties a year for different holidays. It’s easy for me and only 4 days that I generally just take off of work. Other parents hate that role but I think it’s fun.

I also volunteer at school events usually for clean up as dh can take the kids home or ds1 stays and helps too.

Many things were weekly, monthly, or as needed and I just can’t commit to that.

[librarychica]

Aug 21, 2018 14:16:41 GMT -5 2chatter said:

So, last year I found the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions.

DD picked up and worked a lot of projects and while some were “in the next week or so” many were “oh, sorry, she wants that tomorrow or at the latest the next day” and that wasn’t always communicated when she picked it up. I had the same experience 5 years ago so I stopped doing it, and thought maybe it was better. Nope.

This is my fear. FTR, we don’t have room parents.

[covergirl82]

I will not be a room parent because I know I won't be good at it and won't have time to dedicate to it. Plus, no offense, but if a parent doesn't work and isn't home caring for other children, I kind of expect them to offer to be a room parent. If I had a spare 30 hours a week, I would do it (knowing that it may not be something that working parents or parents who are home with kids have extra time for).

On some of my Fridays off, I will sign up to help out in each of the kids' classes for an hour. In K-1, that meant listening to the kids read to me. 2nd grade was working with a small group of students (on a rotation of students) on an activity. I also sign up to help with class parties and try to chaperone field trips because those don't require prep work.

[sandandsea]

And after reading this the job title and responsibilities vary greatly from school to school. Room parent for me is 4 days a year whereas others are saying 30 hours a week!?!?

[divanerd]

I'm on the social committee for the school and will do Career Day. I'm also in Cub Scouts in our community joined this year since son is 1st grade.

I say use sign up genius and don't overcommit.

[freezorburn]

I haven't been able to volunteer during the school day because most of the times they need someone turns out to be on a day that I work. I've gotten pulled in to a couple of PTA committees, though, and I think that's a better fit for my skills and experience, anyway.

[shakinros]

I can’t do most of the stuff because it’s during the school day. Possible I could volunteer for something in the morning, but inevitably they need someone from 12:30-3, which kills a whole work day.

I do volunteer for events. We have a fall carnival that needs a lot of bodies and a winter celebration, spring history day, etc. I don’t PTA because the people who attend at our school are a bit much for me.

In our school, room parents plan and execute parties (4x/year), chaperone field trips (3x/year), help marshal other parents for school-wide volunteering, and spearhead teacher appreciation. It’s def not a part-time job, but I know they do stuff every week.

[mommyatty]

I do stuff that I enjoy and can work into my regular life with little hassle. So for example, I agreed to be the Annual Fund chair for our grade. I’ll send out emails, put the info on our class Facebook page, and go make calls during the phoneathon one night.

But I’m not planning class parties. That interferes with my work life.

Also, I’m blunt about only volunteering if the parameters are well-set. I’m happy to help out, but my volunteering isn’t a second job where I answer to a boss. It’s me helping make our community nicer. I leave the scattered “holy cow, we need someone to go buy 48 cupcakes for tomorrow” type jobs to the SAHMs. They have the time.